Kaleidoscope effect

Jewellery kaleidoscope

Category Archive: Ethnic

North Kenyan tribes of Samburu and Rendille may differ in the languages they speak, but have the same passion for beaded jewelry. Beaded bracelets, necklaces, head adornments worn mainly for their beauty, can also tell much about relationships, special events and customs. Beaded jewellery is not only tradition, but a sophisticated and evolving fashion. From their young age, the girls are offered strings of beads by their fathers. The first layers of necklaces are usually red, as it means the girl is engaged (which can be at a very early age).More »

Huong Pham, Miss Vietnam 2015 debuts her National Costume on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Wednesday, December 16, 2015. Huong Pham has one of the best national costumes. She doesn’t need all that extra accessories something simple elegant and graceful fits her beautifully. The elegance and the way she carries herself simply makes her stun among the other beautiful ladies. So elegant yet appropriate for her country. Also beautifully crafted and decorated with jewelry and all that beaded embroidery, crystals. In this costume, Huong Pham looks mysterious and stunning. This is how a genuine national costume should be. Miss Universe 2015 National Costumes made the audience feel like they are watching a parade or a fashion show, some have big wings like Victoria’s Secret fashion show. For making folk costumes historical and eye-catching, designers use lots of sparkling crystals, gems, gold embroidery, jewelry, feathers.More »

‘Sailboat with two in love’ brooch in the Damascene technique (Spain). Damascene jewellery art

Damascene jewellery art
Originated in Damascus, Syria more than 2 000 years ago, borrowed by the Arabs and brought to Spain, Damascene technique has reached our days. This technique, in particular, was the art of incrustation of various metals into each other, and most often gold or silver into a copper, steel or alloy basis.
Meanwhile, to Japan, the art of damascene got through the Silk Road in the period between 710 AD -794. It achieved a great popularity in Kyoto during the Edo period (1603 – 1868), when masters decorated handles of weapons. However, due to the fact of banning of swords in Japan, the masters used their skills in the manufacture of accessories and jewelry. Their art reflected traditional motifs – flowers, birds, sakura, landscapes, and Mount Fuji. By 1936, more than half of the manufactured Damascene products had been exported mainly to the United States and England.More »

Folk dress of Portuguese woman decorated with jewelry has been always highly valued because of its superior quality and a special technique of making ornaments – filigree. The oldest objects found on the territory of modern Portugal, made in filigree, dated 2500-2000 BC. It should also be noted that the Portuguese gold has the highest purity in Europe – 19.2 carats (80% purity). Forms and design of jewelry are closely associated with the history and religion. For example, the famous heart of Viana (coração de Viana), the form of which is observed in present day traditional earrings is one of the oldest symbols of Portugal.More »

Cleopatra legendary jewellery
One of the most beautiful women of the ancient world, Great Queen of Egypt of a divine origin, unmatched mistress, was capable to bewitch any man – even if he is Caesar. The mysterious and attractive image of Cleopatra still holds many mysteries and charms for over two thousand years. Historians of antiquity, who observe the life of Cleopatra, are impressed by without doubt, magical abilities of this woman.
But if you carefully read the ancient texts, none of them call Egyptian queen – beauty. Instead, praised her sharp wit and determination, as well as an excellent education. Cleopatra knew seven languages ​​and even wrote philosophical treatises and writings on weights and measures. In addition, she was unsurpassed expert in the field of Women in the Arts – knew the secrets of the special preparation of cosmetic drugs (and poisons!), had mastered the art of dress and jewelry to choose.More »

Ancient Sumerian jewelry was opened by archaeologist Sir Charles Leonard Woolley, who led excavations in the Sumerian city of Ur in the 1920s. He found the tomb of Queen Puabi (Shubad), whose age is 4,5 thousand years. The treasures from the tomb of Puabi, which, like the tomb of Tutankhamun, did not suffer from the hands of the robbers, are kept at the Pennsylvania University Museum and the British Museum. Unfortunately, the part that was left at the Baghdad museum has been lost since the museum was looted during the war in 2003. The ancient Sumerian city of Ur was located in present-day Iraq, between Baghdad and the Persian Gulf, close to the gulf.More »

Traditional Armenian jewellery and folk costume have existed for 3,000 years, and during that time underwent some natural changes and the influence of neighboring peoples, but on the whole it has kept its own characteristics and the name – “Taraz”. Armenian folk costumes are very colorful. Red, which is considered a symbol of fertility, is often found in suits. Other favorite colors of the Armenians were blue, purple, white, green. In different areas, people had their own preferences, for example in Western Armenia preferred white color, and in the eastern part of the country, people preferred to wear red (present Armenia). Dresses were sewn according to wealth, made of silk, brocade, satin, cotton. Previously, Armenian woman liked to wear a lot of jewelry – necklaces, earrings, headwear decorations and bracelets. Jewelry has been an indispensable part of the national costume, it is passed from generation to generation, and is mostly made of silver.More »